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RAMAPO – Two referendums set for Sept. 30 will be an opportunity for residents to change the size and makeup of the Town Board — which a pair of activists hopes would create a more robust opposition to the current administration.

Ramapo's four Town Board members, like board members of Rockland's other four towns, are currently elected at large, meaning they can live anywhere in the town. One of the referendums will ask voters whether to implement a ward system that would split the town into geographical wards represented by specific Town Board members.

The other referendum is to decide whether to increase the number of Town Board members from four to six.

The board adopted the resolution on a 4-0 vote, with St. Lawrence and Town Board members Patrick Withers, Yitzchok Ullman and Daniel Friedman voting yes. Town Board member Brendel Logan was absent.

"People can decide if they want to expand the size of the government," St. Lawrence said. "People can decide if they want to have a ward system."

Ramapo activists Robert Romanowski and Michael Parietti successfully forced the town to hold referendums that could change the size and the shape of the government. The referendums will be held Sept. 30. (Video by Akiko Matsuda/The Journal News)
Video by Akiko Matsuda/The Journal News

Parietti said he believes a seven-member board can reduce tax hikes because it'll require five votes to override the state-mandated 2 percent tax cap. Currently, three votes are sufficient to override the cap.

"Now we know the date, Sept. 30," Parietti said. "This gives us the time to get the word out so that people will understand what the ward system is, and they will come out to vote on Sept. 30."

Ramapo isn't the only town in the Lower Hudson Valley where support for changing to a ward system has been in evidence. Anthony Futia, a longtime activist and former North Castle town employee, said Thursday he was in the process of filing petitions.